Continuous envelope



Feb. 25, i958 w. s. HAMILTON CONTINUOUS ENVELOPE Filed Mroh 9, 1955 v k6. c/ O o o lo! iol o o o o O 01./ o o O Q\\0J o o o 1| ||1 o O O o o o d Z o o o o o o O OL .Vll l o o 8 o o O O o o O O o o o o o mul? o l o o o l Z o o o o o oil |m| o E l@ o o o o a o k INVENTOR.

w/LL/AM- s. HAM/JON WALL@ HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent O CONTINUOUS ENVELOPE William S. Hamilton, Newark, Del.

Application March 9, 1955, Serial No. 493,184

4 Claims. v(Cl. 229-69) This invention relates to and has for its object the provision of a continuous envelope adaptable for use either by manual means or with any of the numerous machines now in use, such as I. B. M. accounting machines, addressograph machines, typewriters, teletypewriters; and the like. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved arrangement of envelopes, so positioned and attached to a backing strip, that direct inscription is possible on the face of each envelope and so disposed that it does not suffer from the disadvantages of envelopes found in the continuous assemblies shown in the prior art. After inscription on the face' of the envelopes, they may be readily filled by either manual or mechanical means. Thus, the envelopes may be used as business envelopes of standard size `and shape for mailing; or they may be used for any other standard purpose. i. e. payroll, storage of records, etc.

According to the invention, the envelopes, spaced a slight distance apart, are attached to a continuous base sheet of paper by means of a strip perforated so that removal of the envelope from the strip may readily be effected, The strip is secured to the paper by means of glue, adhesive tape, etc., and it is preferred to make the strip as small as is practically possible and adhesion to the base sheet over as small an area as practically possible. After the envelopes are removed, a continuous sheet remains which is useful for the inscription and recording of whatever additional data may be desired.

A general object of the invention, therefore, is to provide an improved continuous envelope assembly which may be used for direct inscription of data on the face of each envelope.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved means for attaching envelopes in series and for effecting feeding of the envelopes through an inscribing machine.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a continuous envelope having an improved arrangement which enables efficient use of all of the enclosed area and permits eicient filling by either manual or mechanical means.

According to another feature of the invention, an assembly is provided which may be used, not only for the direct inscription of data on individual envelopes, but for the supplementary use of the base sheet for inscription of ad-ditional data.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will be pointed out in the following detailed description which is illustrative but not limitative of the invention and the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a series of envelopes attached to a continuous base sheet as employed in the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view illustrating more specifically the envelope assembly,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2 showing how the envelopes are attached to the continuous sheet by means of the perforated strip,

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2,824,686' Patented Feb. 25, s

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective View similar to Fig. 1 but showing the manner in which the envelopes are detached from the strip and the resulting sheet with space available for further inscription.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, in Figures 1 and 2, a form of the invention is shown comprising a single base sheet of paper l and a series of envelopes 2, the gummed edge 4 of each envelope (shown in Fig. 4) being attached by a perforated strip 5, to the base sheet 1 by means of glue 6 or some other adhesive material (shown in Fig. 3). The base `sheet is scored or in some other manner manufactured to contain a transverse weakened. or perforated line 7 to enable folding ofthe' base sheet into a packet of small volume and to enable separation of the sheet into portions carryingk individual envelopes. An optional scored line is shown at 8 which may be included so that when. the envelopes are separated from the base sheet` 1, a completely free surface is presented for the recording of further data asis evident in Fig. 4. Pin-hole perforations 9 arey preferably provided along the sides of the base sheet in order to permit engagement of pin-type feeding meansfor advancing the sheet and attached envelopes continuously through the inscription position. These may, of course, be omitted if desired in cases where they are unnecessary, such as, for example, when manual advancement of the sheet is effected during typewriter inscription. In preparingk the construction of the present invention, the size of the individual envelopesl may vary; thus, the normal business size envelope, usually designated as the 6% size, may be used or the larger business size, usually designated as the No. 10 envelope, may be adapted. Any other size envelope (e. g. payroll, record storage, etc.) may be used and it is also possible to attach different size envelopes on the same sheet. For economy, it is preferred to have the perforated strip 5, used for attachment of each envelope to the base sheet, contain as small an amount of adhesive as practicable. This is the most economical method of operation and is also the most etiicient, leaving the largest possible area available on the base sheet for recording after inscription of the envelopes and separation of them from the base sheet.

ln operation, the envelope may be fed through the addressing machine in the usual manner or the feeding may be effected by manual movement, as through a typewriter. After addressing and separation from the base sheet, the envelope pocket may be mechanically or manually filled, then sealed for mailing or distribution. Applicant wishes to specifically point out that, in accordance with the present invention, an inscribed envelope of conventional size and shape is obtained wherein the most eliicient use of the envelope pocket is obtainable. In this connection, attention is directed to the fact that in certain prior art envelopes, such as, for example, that shown in Patent No. 2,257,766, the final product contains a large portion of unused pocket area since all three closed sides must be fastened by glue before use. Thus, for example, it has been found that in a reference envelope approximately 53 sq. in. in area, the effective pocket area is only approximately 40.5 sq. in. This ineflicient use of pocket area in the prior art envelope results in a significant increase in weight per unit pocket area so that more postage is required, higher freight charges are necessary and more storage space is required. Furthermore, the envelopes of the present invention being of conventional shape, are far more desirable from a sales standpoint. As desired, the envelopes attached to the base sheet according to the present invention may be considerably varied in size and shape while those of the prior art are normally limited to the particular size of the base sheet. 1 Moreover, all exposed edges of the envelopes of the invention are rounded in contrast to the sharp edges necessarily found in the products of Patents Nos. 2,257 ,7 66 and 2,181,212. This is advantageous from a practical point of view since postal authorities have often objected to the use of envelopes having such sharp edges due to the ease with which skin cuts may result during handling. Note also that in the continuous envelope shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,257,766 and in other patents, the envelope size cannot be varied. In the present invention, however, as previously indicated, no size limitations are necessary and either a side ap or an end strip may be used.

Another significant advantage of the present invention lies in the fact that inscription may be made directly on the face of the envelope without the use of carbon. Thus, not only is the manufacture of the continuous envelopes simplified but the operation and handling can be carried out with a minimum amount of difculty and without inconvenience. Also, note that after inscription of the envelopes and detachment from the base sheet, the latter may again be used for the recording of additional data. As indicated above, use of perforated strip of minimum size yields a nal base sheet of maximum area for supplemental inscription. Although the perforated strip may be easily attached to the base sheet by gluing an adequate area of the edge furtherest from the envelope, this, of course, is not the only manner of attachment. For example, a removable adhesive may be used so that, after separating the envelope from the strip by tearing on the perforation, the remaining portion of the flap may be removed from the sheet to leave the entire base strip free from impediment and available for further use.

`This invention may be variously otherwise embodied within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A continuous envelope device comprising an elongated base, a series of strips mounted on one surface of said base and spaced from each other longitudinally of said base, each of said strips being connected to said base at one portion thereof and having a second portion disconnected from said base, a line of weakness separating said rst and second portions of each of said strips, said second portion comprising an envelope integrally connected to each of said strips, each of said envelopes comprising a top surface, integral with its corresponding strip, and an underfolded pocket surface, each of said envelopes being arranged on said base apart from each adjacent envelope, with its underfolded pocket surface in face-toface, free relationship with said base and with its top surface aligned with its corresponding second portion.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein each of said strips and their corresponding envelopes are spaced laterally from the opposite edges of said base.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein a series of perforations are provided in the lateral spaces between said strips and envelopes and the side edges of said base.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein a line of weakness is provided in said base betwen each strip and the strip adjacent thereto.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,893,086 Keller Jan. 3, 1933 2,013,844 Sherman Sept. l0, 1935 2,181,212 Smith Nov. 28, 1939 Y 2,257,766 Sherman Oct. 7, 1941 2,723,077 Whitman Nov. 8, 1955 

